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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think she's the along the piss (car insurance claim)

102 replies

Badweekjustgotworse · 07/04/2017 17:56

Short version... backed into a scooter that was parked behind me reversing out of parking space (parked right up my arse didn't see it in mirrors)

Made contact but immediately stopped so it wasn't pushed over. There is a tiny amount of paint rubbed off, literally the size of a raisin.

Exchanged numbers, (the rider came out of shop I'd just left) they said they'd take it straight to the shop for quote and I said fine let me know...

Anyway, they called I spoke to the mechanic who told me price, I said fine let me get another quote for peace of mind etc.

Other guy said her quote was reasonable so I agreed to call round to her mechanic and pay him.

Called round, manager out, other guy said call back later so texted to say I'd tried to pay as promised but couldn't and would call round later.....

Then the fun starts

Scooter owner calls straight back to say they've changed their mind, don't want the paint touched up, want the entire panel replacing and it'll cost twice as much and they want cash delivered to them not the shop.

I said no, original quote to shop as I want a receipt, loads of nonsense in between and eventually they back down and go with original. I say I'll drop it up to shop but no they want it delivered to their house in cash Hmm I say no and want receipt. They then say they've spoken to the shop and if I leave the money there they'll take some of it off the fulll amount if she goes to collect it so clearly she just wants the money and not do the repair

I call the shop to verify, they say she's not called and they're happy to hold an envelope of cash for them and give me a receipt and won't take any of it!

I don't want to hand cash over to some randomer at their door as then I'm worried I get a call tomorrow saying that they want more, especially after they've already tried to change the goal posts more than once already, and I'd not have a leg to stand on as their way there's no witnesses or reciepts to prove money has exchanged hands?

Now they're being an arse though and saying they've told the shop not to accept anything from me and if I don't deliver cash to their house thy want to go through insurance

Once again, the patch of paint rubbed off is smaller than my little finger nail.....

Would I be totally unreasonable to just drop the cash round to the shop and text to say collect it or bog off? Or just suck up the excess and increase in premium next year to get them off my back?

OP posts:
travellinglighter · 08/04/2017 00:02

Just phone your insurance and accept the extra costs. Make sure it's all above board and official before she thinks up another scam. You exchange insurance details and report it seperately. Make sure they know she's tried to scam you. Provide any evidence- texts etc.

travellinglighter · 08/04/2017 00:04

You don't pay the excess, your insurance company does. You only pay excess if you make a claim for damage on your car and it's your fault.

Original poster
Badweekjustgotworse · 08/04/2017 00:04

thank you all this all helps, i was starting to loose it earlier. insurance in the morning and I've turned my phone off in the meantime, don't want midnight texts again like Iast night Confused

OP posts:
Widehorizen · 08/04/2017 00:05

I think this is one of those 'Only on MN' situations.

If you go through your insurance, You're going to end up with a fault claim on your insurance record for the sake of less than £100.

Sledgehammer/nut.

BadLad · 08/04/2017 00:05

Badweek, please stop worrying about excess. Just let her discuss it with your insurers.

notbankinonit · 08/04/2017 00:08

She won't pay an excess. You won't pay an excess.
An example of a scenario where you would pay an excess is, if you reversed into a metal fence (like I did) and claimed for the repair off your own insurance. The claim value was about £2000 and I paid something like £150 excess.

LostInMess · 08/04/2017 00:10

I had similar last year - nudged a car causing no damage whatsoever to mine but, apparently £1500 worth of damage to hers.

As the lady reacted in a somewhat
surprising manner (I had to wait ages for her as I was sure I'd heard a noise but there was no visible damage but I didn't want to drive off just in case - she then came out and wasn't aggressive just spent about 5 minutes wailing as if I'd just run over her firstborn - me, I'd have been delighted that someone had fessed up, especially with no
Witnesses), I handed it to my insurers as I couldn't face dealing with her. She had umpteen contact details for me but never got in touch until 3 months later when the traditional letter from Sue, Grabbit and Runne arrived ordering me to pass the matter to my insurers - I took great delight in saying I already had done.

No further involvement from me after that - my premium shot up at renewal so I looked online and got a new premium this year which was cheaper than last year's - lots of factors affect renewal premiums.

You have a duty to disclose the incident to your insurers in any event so this would affect your risk premium even if no claim
were made.

Original poster
Badweekjustgotworse · 08/04/2017 00:11

but wide I've tried to give her the cash, she changed her mind and more than doubled it, then back ed down when i wanted to get other quotes, then changed her mind me paying the mechanic / leaving money there, then wanted to go through insurance (I think she was trying to call my bluff to get me to drop her cash even when I explained i wanted peace of mind with receipt), then lied about speaking to the mechanic again which i called her on because i then phoned and he said he hadn't spoke to her Hmm

OP posts:
GabsAlot · 08/04/2017 00:13

shes just aftere quick cash prob has no intention of fixing the bike

call her bluff go through insurance

notbankinonit · 08/04/2017 00:14

widehammer. Sledgehammer/nut if you are dealing with someone you know, who is reasonable and you know won't do something unpredictable.
Not sledgehammer/nut if you don't know them from Adam, and they are behaving erratically.
I've had all 3. Paid for damage to my neighbours car that I did, because I knew she was a reasonable person. Claimed off my own insurance because it was a big job that I did on my own another time, and had a claim against me - I broke her fog lamp - £10 plus £20 labour(going back a bit here) and she claimed for whiplash and loss of earnings!

notbankinonit · 08/04/2017 00:15

Sorry, widehorizen ! Too many hammers😀

Widehorizen · 08/04/2017 00:16

Yes, I do see where you're coming from.

If it were me, I would offer her in cash if she agrees to sign a receipt.

If she quibbles, just 'threaten' to use your insurer and she won't see any cash at all.

She's just trying it on, don't blink first!

Widehorizen · 08/04/2017 00:19

Smile @ njotbamk

I just think people are seriously underestimating the damage a fault claim does to your record, it doesn't matter if it's a fault claim for £10,000, or one for £10, a fault claim, is a fault claim and will have a serious negative impact on OP

Especially if you ever wish to hire a car, or drive a friends car for example

notbankinonit · 08/04/2017 00:20

gabsalot is right. She's trying it on to get a cash wodge. Bin there!
You're not necessarily going to have to pay crucifying insurance premiums for the next 10 yrs. As a pp said, shop around. You might have protected no claims anyway - can you remember if you have?
Bugger her off to the insurance company.

Widehorizen · 08/04/2017 00:22

...personally (and I work in insurance), I'd beg/steal/borrow to avoid having a claim against me, even if it were a couple of grand.

Voluntarily giving up my unblemished record for less than £100? Not a chance!

notbankinonit · 08/04/2017 00:26

I do see your point wide. But you do have to have a strong nerve to do it, and a good right hook if they start.
It's just that I haven't seen any calamitous changes to my insurances, or had any other difficulties, despite my chequered history.
I'm a bit windy though, and would rather have the peace of mind which comes from my perceived correct behaviour 😂

Original poster
Badweekjustgotworse · 08/04/2017 00:29

gahhhh why didn't she just take the feckin money earlier now I'm sat here at half past midnight worrying about no claims bonuses. (which is probably exactly what she wanted... cynical)

OP posts:
notbankinonit · 08/04/2017 00:30

wide My partner's like you. He's quite sickened to have to be involved with my insurance😂. I think he feels I'm a let down on his goodly record. I can't be arsed.

Widehorizen · 08/04/2017 00:30

Fair enough - Each to their own Smile

Original poster
Badweekjustgotworse · 08/04/2017 00:31

omg Id not have mission if it came to a good right hook not she was ermmm not sure how to put it politely... looked like she had the capacity for short temper?

OP posts:
notbankinonit · 08/04/2017 00:32

Bad Don't worry. It always feels like this the first time you have to deal with it. It will wear off, and you will have the experience under your belt. Honestly, it's a nowt on the scale of things!

PyongyangKipperbang · 08/04/2017 00:32

Let her claim on your insurance rather than you reporting it yourself.

Say "Fine, here are my details feel free to make a claim, or I can pay for the respray" Bet you never hear from them again as a claim, even a no fault, will affect their premiums [voice of experience]

Original poster
Badweekjustgotworse · 08/04/2017 00:33

not chequered just reads as interesting to me, your dh is just too squeaky

OP posts:
Littledrummergirl · 08/04/2017 00:41

Write her a cheque. She can cash it at the post office without a bank account I believe. You have proof you paid it. Keep the quote from the mechanics just in case.
Or go through the insurance.

TeslasDeathRay · 08/04/2017 03:47

I'd be wary of giving them money directly. If it was only damaged paint as you said they might not actually be planning to get it fixed and are just seeing how much money they can get out of you.

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